Dividing a House in Washington State: Community Property State: Washington State is a community property state, meaning both spouses own an undivided interest in the house. The court has discretion to divide the property fairly, which might not always be a 50/50 split. Determining The Equity: To divide the house, f.
Fundamentals: Do Not Move Out Moving out of the marital residence before divorce is final is the worst mistake you can make if you want a fair and quick settlement. This is especially true when minor children are involved, and you are seeking primary custody from the court.
How Does the Court Usually Divide Property? A court in Washington State will usually a) award each party his or her own separate property and b) divide the net value of the parties' community property 50/50.
Courts usually award each spouse his or her separate property and divide community property 50/50. Consequently, if the house is entirely one spouses' separate property, he or she almost always receives it unless the parties agree otherwise.
For long-term marriages (over 25 years), the court will usually try to put both parties in an equal financial position for either the remainder of their lives or until both parties retire. The idea is that after 25 years, the parties should be recognized as financially equal partners.
If you are married, you may give your one-half interest in community property through your will. If you die intestate and are survived by a spouse or partner, your entire one-half interest in community property will pass to your surviving spouse or partner.
A court in Washington State will usually a) award each party his or her own separate property and b) divide the net value of the parties' community property 50/50. This means the husband keeps what he brought to the marriage, the wife keeps what she brought, and the rest gets split between them equally.
Strategies for Keeping the House in a Washington Divorce If the home was purchased by one or both spouses during the marriage, it legally belongs to both of you 50/50 when splitting divorce assets. So, to get the house in the divorce, you will need to buy your spouse out of your interest equity in the house.
Definition: Community Property This includes real property, such as land and buildings, as well as earnings from wages and other contractual benefits, such as stock options, insurance, pension plans, etc. Both spouses or partners each possess an equal one-half interest in all of their community property.
This second function of the Community Property Agreement, that automatic conveyance of all assets to the surviving spouse at the moment of the death of one spouse, is perhaps the most common and most reliable way for married couples to avoid probate in Washington State.